Bengals up for Steelers challenge?

Saturday

The Jungle will be filled to capacity this afternoon, so that means just one thing: the Steelers are in town.

The reigning Super Bowl champs bring with them an eight-game winning streak on the Cincinnati’s home turf.

They bring with them an elite quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger who’s 11-0 as a pro in his native state of Ohio.

They also bring with them a legion of black-and-gold clad fans who’ve often out-cheered the home crowd at Paul Brown Stadium in recent years. It’s because of those faithful followers of the Steelers, who gobbled up thousands of unsold tickets, that the game doesn’t have to be blackened out of Cincinnati television.

It all adds up to a tough task for the Bengals. But it’s a challenge they embrace.

For this is the year the Bengals believe their dubious losing streak to the Steelers will be snapped.

They believe that by season’s end, they will be challenging the Steelers and Ravens in the chase for the AFC North title.

“I think so,” Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said. “We will find out as we go forward, but it is extremely important for me. I have been in the league for seven years, have been playing for six and haven’t had that taste of a good run in the playoffs that a lot of guys have and it is something that I want badly and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

“Of all of the groups we have had since I have been here, this is one of our best chances to make a run and see what we can do.”

Going into Week 3, nine NFL teams are 2-0. The Bengals believe they should be the 10th. If not for a fluke play in their season opener — a home game against Denver which management gave away 1,000 tickets to charity and military organizations and the local CBS affiliate and Kroger supermarket to prevent a blackout — the Bengals would be tied with the Ravens for first place in the division.

When running back Cedric Benson scored with 38 seconds left to play on Sept. 13, the Bengals led the Broncos 7-6. But with 11 seconds to go, Denver wide receiver Brandon Stockley scored on an 87-yard TD pass, catching the football after it was tipped by Bengals cornerback Leon Hall.

It was the kind of play that epitomized “Bungles” so many times in recent years.

But Cincinnati rebounded last week by rallying and upsetting the Packers, 31-24 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

“We didn’t flinch,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “We kept playing when we fell behind. We did extra things it takes to win. So many guys played key parts. That’s how it needs to be all year.”

Offensively, it starts with Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, the flamboyant wide receiver. Benson has re-energized the ground attack with 76 yards against the Broncos and 141 against the Packers.

But it’s on defense where the Bengals have made their most significant improvement.

The Steelers’ defense ranks ninth in the league. The Bengals aren’t far behind at No. 11.

“This game is about the big picture: Can the Bengals become part of the picture in their division?” said Phil Simms, who’ll call today’s game as part of CBS’ broadcast team.

“We all know about the history of the Bengals and Steelers. It’s been one-sided. So this is the Bengals trying to judge the division they’re in and realizing how the Steelers and Ravens have separated themselves. They’ve done it with toughness and defense, and the Bengals are trying to become a part of that culture.”

KEY MATCHUPS

Ike Taylor vs Chad Ochocinco

The Steelers didn’t want to tip their hand this week, but there’s a chance Taylor will shadow Ochocinco wherever he lines up. Even if that isn’t the case, there will be plenty of times when Taylor will defend Ochocinco in a classic match-up between shutdown cornerback and prolific wide receiver.

Over the years, Ochocinco hasn’t enjoyed much success against the Steelers. In 16 games, he’s only caught four touchdown passes.

Ochocinco says if he scores today, he’ll celebrate any touchdowns with a Spanish-theme dance.

“That’s cool,” Taylor said. “That’s just Chad being Chad.”

Max Starks vs. Antwan Odom

Last year in two games against the Steelers, the Bengals didn’t sack Ben Roethlisberger. But now that Odom, a right defensive end, has started this season with a bang, the Bengals expect the Steelers’ star quarterback to go down a few times.

Odom leads the NFL with seven sacks. He got five of them last week in a win in Green Bay. Thanks to Odom, the Bengals lead the NFL with nine sacks. That’s quite an improvement over the past two seasons when Cincinnati recorded just 39 sacks (17 last year, 22 in 2007), the lowest total in the league.

“He’s on my side, so it’s going to be a very fun game for me,” said Starks, the Steelers’ left tackle who’ll line up across from Odom.

Jeff Reed vs. Shayne Graham

Field goals have decided both of the Steelers’ first two games, so today’s game may come down to which kicker comes through in the clutch.

Last week under rainy conditions in Chicago, Reed didn’t deliver as he’s done so often in the past. The Steelers believe they would be 2-0 right now if Reed connected on either the 37-yarder or 43-yarder he missed in the fourth quarter.

Graham has made his only attempt this season. But he’s a ninth-year pro who ranks fourth in NFL history in field goal accuracy. He’s made 174 of 203 tries for an 85.71 percent success rate.

Since the start of the 2004 season, Reed ranks third in field goal percentage in the last two minutes of a game and overtime at .875 (21 of 24). Graham is second at .900 (26 of 29). First is Chicago’s Robbie Gould (15 of 15), who beat the Steelers’ with a 44-yarder last week with 15 seconds left to play.

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